Winners to be announced Jan. 30, 2026 at OHP banquet
The School District of Osceola County has announced the finalists for its annual education awards.
The annual 10 nominees for Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year will be joined this year by three finalists for Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year. The winners will be announced at the annual SDOC banquet, held this school year Jan. 30, 2026 at Osceola Heritage Park.
The Teacher of the Year finalists are:
- Philip Brennan, Media Specialist - Tohopekalia High
- Kyndall Brown, Agriculture Teacher - Harmony Middle
- Kyle Carr, Science Teacher - Harmony High
- Melanie Gonzalez, Science Teacher - Discovery Intermediate
- Richard Holley-Byrd, Personal Finance Literacy Teacher - Celebration High
- Haley Macky, Kindergarten Teacher - Canoe Creek K-8
- Samuel Morrow, Social Studies Teacher - St Cloud High
- Benjamin Niewoehner, Instructional Coach - NeoCity Academy
- German Ortiz, Fifth Grade Teacher - Central Avenue Elementary
- Jennifer Stevens, Third Grade Teacher - Island Village Elementary
The School-Related Employee of the Year finalists are:
- Oscar Cohn, Program Assistant - Osceola Technical College
- Maria Cosme, Executive Secretary - Kissimmee Elementary
- Geraldo Guzman Lebron, Student Records Clerk - Flora Ridge Elementary
- Yashmelly Lozanda Ruiz, Nurse - Horizon Middle
- David Maxwell, Paraprofessional - Chestnut Elementary for Science and Engineering
- Jessica Mintz, Paraprofessional - St. Cloud Elementary
- Penny Mol, Printing and Graphics Specialist - Technology Services
- Antonia "Toni" Rapinesi, Supervisor of Social Services - Student Services
- David Smith, IT Tech - Tohopekaliga High
- Dayana Valverde, Community Relations Specialist - Community Relations
The Principal of the Year finalists are:
- Jeffrey Schwartz – Poinciana High
- Misty Cruz – Parkway Middle
- Katie Adams - Reedy Creek Elementary
The Assistant Principal of the Year finalists are:
- Amanda Yontz – St. Cloud High
- Frankie Franceschi – Denn John Middle
- David Kane – Kissimmee Elementary
